Review: “Expelled into Suffering” by Assimilator

Hailing from Fort Wayne Indiana, American Old School Death Thrash masters Assimilator maybe more familiar to you than you might think. That’s because since their inception in 2016 they spent a year known as LazerWulf before spending five years known as Death On Fire before rebranding for a third time. These days the band comprises Throne, Wizard Death and Alpha-o-MAGA man Tim Kenefic on guitar and vocals, Moist and Squelching bassist and vocalist David Sueoka, Masochist drummer Tyler Witte and Damage guitarist Noah Werner who self-describe the outfit as having a Gothenburg influenced OSDM sound with a grimier American edge. As if that wasn’t enough, after the success of their 2022 self titled debut album, they’re calling their sophomore record an unapologetic return to their dirtier brand of the New Wave of American Death Metal roots and a raw and intense experience.

Cloaked in artwork from Karl Dahmer “Expelled into Suffering” begins with the title track, a cut introduced by the sounds of a torture chamber hell accompanied by a fleeting moment of melancholic piano. As if waking from a nightmarish fever dream, raw guitars and brutal vocals come roaring through the ear canals like the winds of plague, the band having an undeniably addictive sense of groove. A mid cut section of blast beats and blackened riffs is an unexpectedly violent left turn, serving as evidence that they can not only mix it up but aren’t your archetypal one trick pony. Lurching out of a flamboyant solo with a sample and some almost downtempo riffage is masterfully done, the old school roots and choice of sound giving them something different. Somehow they’ve managed to capture something that makes this have the raw quality of a demo but the drums sound crisp and clean, something which works incredibly well. Interestingly “Nocturnal Forge” has that aforementioned Gothenburg quality to it with Melodic Death Metal leads evident during a rampage of headbang-able riffs and pummelling percussive battery. It’s a change up which brings to mind bands like At The Gates, the caustic nature of the vocals a reminder of exactly what time and space you’re in because there is no unclean singing here.

The punishment beating of a bludgeoning continues with “Changeling“, a cut that once again finds the band offering Blackened riffs to the masses. This time however while they are delivered with speed and brutality there is also a certain verve and swagger as the well oiled live machine execute a face melting solo with laser guided missile precision. Those Gothenburg style leads then rear their ugly head once more in “I Am“; the band toying with the discerning listener as they switch in slick fashion between styles and tempos with a surprising amount of grace given how dirty their sound is. Before the end of this one they even touch on Sludge infused Doom Metal territory and all with the compelling crush of complete annihilation. A well thought out, cleverly constructed and diverse burnt offering, there is more to this record and this band than meet the eye so if you love the smell of fresh napalm in the morning, you can’t go too far wrong here [7.5/10]

Track Listing:

1. Expelled into Suffering
2. Nocturnal Forge
3. Changeling
4. I Am

“Expelled into Suffering” by Assimilator is out 21st June 2024 via Horror Pain Gore Death Productions